BRL hitman Wally Fullerton-Smith reveals Qld State of Origin coach Artie Beetson’s words leading to his shock call-up

BRL hitman Wally Fullerton-Smith reveals coach Artie Beetson’s words leading to his shock State of Origin call-up just hours before kick-off.

Welcome to the Best of the BRL flashbacks series featuring players and stories from the 1980s. Today we reveal Wally Fullerton-Smith’s shock State of Origin call-up.

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“Get your head on, you will be starting tonight. Do us proud,’’ legendary Queensland coach Artie Beetson said after opening Wally Fullerton-Smith’s hotel room door just hours hours before kick-off to the 1983 series opener.

And with those words the Origin career of Wally Fullerton-Smith was launched.

In 1983 Fullerton-Smith, having served a five season apprenticeship in the BRL with the Redcliffe Dolphins, had earned a place on a Queensland bench alongside Wynnum-Manly’s Brett French.

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In those days there was no interchange, meaning if you were a reserve you were unlikely to get on the field because coaches held their replacements back for injury.

Wally Fullerton-Smith went to St George after years at Redcliffe. Pic Peter Kurnick.

“Paul McCabe (Queensland second rower) got food poisoning and Arthur poked his head in the door at 4pm on game day and said: ‘Get your head on, you will be starting tonight’.

“And I was ready to go mate. I couldn’t get on the field quickly enough,’’ Fullerton-Smith said.

“And twenty-four hours later I was in Auckland with the Australian side.

“You went out and did your best for all your mates watching, your family. I did not want to let anyone down, particularly yourself.’’

Fullerton-Smith’s Test debut just days after his Origin debut was so impressive, it was rated by many good judges as the finest by an Australian forward in recent memory.

Fullerton-Smith’s BRL career started as a 17-year-old in 1978 when he arrived at Redcliffe, ironically from Beetson’s old stomping ground of Roma in western Queensland.

“Bunny Pearce was captain-coached. It was a good experience. You played third grade, reserve grade, first grade. You played against grown men and it was a good lesson.

“It was pretty tough and tumble in those days.’’

It took Fullerton-Smith another season, 1979, before he made his A grade debut with the mighty Dolphins.

Fullerton said his lead-up to his first A grade game was not what he had expected.

He said an first grade club rule at the time was that if Redcliffe were beaten, the players had to do a 400m run for every point they were defeated by.

Wally Fullerton-Smith (ball) tackled by Peter Sterling.Pic Ex Daily Sun. Historical Rugby League A/CT

Redcliffe had lost by 12 points in the previous match, so on the Tuesday night, Fullerton-Smith’s first night training in A grade, he was off on 12x400m runs alongside his teammates.

“I remember thinking I did not think first grade would be like that Tuesday,’’ said Fullerton-Smith, who Queensland and Australia half Mark Murray rated the second biggest defensive hitter he saw in league.

Redcliffee's Test rugby league second rower Wally Fullerton Smith.

“You learned from Tony Obst, Bob Jones, Ian Thinee, Bunny Pearce – you had to aim up or else there were plenty of second rowers waiting around on the edges.’’

Fullerton-Smith said a turning point in his career was the off-season he spent with Redcliffe teammate Terry Webb in France in the early 1980s. “That gave us plenty of confidence. When we came back he (Terry Webb) went really well, I went really well.

“Before I knew it, I was part it (Origin).’’